Ormoc City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) and Leyte 2nd DEO employees try out for the upcoming DPWH 125th Anniversary Sports Fest to be held in June 2023 with the theme “Makasaysayan Daan Tungo sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan”.
The players assembled at the Leyte 4th DEO compound on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 to showcase their skills in various sports competitions including table tennis, basketball, chess, volleyball, badminton and darts. Known for their excellent sportsmanship, the DEOs were determined to build a competitive team in each sport during the selection process to make a mark on this year’s 125th Anniversary Sports Fest. (PR)
TACLOBAN CITY– A 14-year-old boy died after he was hit by an armored vehicle in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte on Monday night.
Joven Sarco was killed after he was sideswiped by the armored van driven by Marlon Lubong,45 in Barangay San Isidro at about 6:50 pm, report from the local police said.
It was learned that the vehicle driven by the suspect, which figured in a vehicular accident in San Juan town, also in Southern Leyte, on that same day, sideswiped the victim who was walking beside the national highway.
This resulted for the boy to sustained head injuries and was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at Sogod District Hospital in Sogod town, also in Southern Leyte.
The driver claimed that he did not noticed the boy as he was answered the phone call of his supervisor.
Lubong is now detained at the Saint Bernard municipal police station’s lock-up facility and was charged for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
The United Nations (UN) and the Philippines have been working together to promote security and development in the country. The UN has provided technical assistance and support to the Philippine government to address various issues such as poverty reduction, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and peace and security. As such, the Department of National Defense (DND) plays a crucial role in implementing the partnership between the Philippines and the United Nations towards security and development. Moreover, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) supports the DND’s efforts to implement UN programs and initiatives.
The Philippines’ adherence to the UN Charter and its principles is reflected in the DND’s and the AFP’s actions promoting peace and security, advancing human rights and sustainable development, and responding to humanitarian crises. As the country’s armed forces, the AFP participates in UN peacekeeping missions, assists in disaster response operations, and provides training and capacity-building to its military forces.
The AFP has been able to help promote and protect human rights, particularly in conflict-affected areas. To maintain international peace and security, the AFP has deployed troops worldwide to various United Nations peacekeeping missions, including Haiti, Liberia, and Sudan. The Philippines has also actively participated in the United Nations-led peace process in Mindanao, which seeks to end decades-long armed conflicts in the region. Along with these programs and initiatives, the AFP has supported the government’s efforts to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development, including the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program for rebel returnees.
Another critical role of the AFP is in disaster response. The Philippines is a disaster-prone country, and the AFP has always been at the forefront of assisting during calamities. Whether it’s typhoons, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions, the AFP is always ready to provide relief and assistance to affected communities.
The international community has recognized the AFP’s disaster response capabilities, with Filipino soldiers and rescuers deployed to various disaster-hit areas in the country. With this, millions of Filipinos have equally received the assistance they need during times of crisis. The AFP’s quick response and unwavering commitment to providing aid and relief have helped to alleviate the suffering of countless Filipinos affected by natural disasters.
The AFP’s involvement in training and capacity-building programs has also extended its capabilities to be a multifaceted force supporting the greater heights of UN and PH partnerships. Through these programs, the AFP not only shares its expertise in various areas but also learns from the experiences of its partners, building a network of cooperation and collaboration among international forces.
Additionally, by sharing its expertise, the AFP helps develop the capacity of other military forces, which can enhance their ability to respond to national security threats and emergencies. Ultimately, the AFP’s commitment to training and capacity-building is essential to its broader mission to support the UN’s goal of promoting international peace and security.
The AFP’s critical role in supporting the UN’s mission of promoting peace, security, and development cannot be overstated. The Philippines’ commitment to upholding the UN’s principles and values is evident in the AFP’s participation in peacekeeping missions, disaster response operations, and training programs. The AFP remains at the forefront of maintaining the UN and PH alliance towards an inclusive partnership for peace and development, prioritizing the safety and well-being of their personnel in carrying out these vital duties. (PR)
ORMOC CITY– What was supposed to be a merry-making activity turned out to be a nightmare after a farmer stabbed another farmer in San Isidro, Leyte on Tuesday (May 23).
Town police chief, Major Reymond Quinagutan, identified the victim as Ruel Cañoneo, 52, of Brgy. Hacienda Maria, while the suspect was identified as Elesio Remorta,62, and a resident of Brgy. Bawod, also in the same town.
The police officer said that the two figured in a heated argument while having a drinking session.
This led the suspect to get a knife from a house located nearby where they were having their drinking spree and stabbed the victim in the different parts of his body, Quinagutan said.
The incident happened at about 7 am while the residents of Hacienda Maria were celebrating their village fiesta.
Witnesses brought Cañoneo to the rural health unit and later to the Ormoc District Hospital, this city, for a medical treatment while Remorta was arrested inside the house where he got the knife.
Major Quinagutan added that because of the multiple wounds sustained in the different parts of the body of the victim, the RHU decided to transfer him to Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City for his medical needs.
Charges of attempted homicide were filed against the suspect who is now detained at a locked-up cell of San Isidro municipal police station. (ROBERT DEJON)
Award-winning journalist Jose ‘Joe’ Torres, Jr. took his oath as the new director-general of the Philippine Information Agency on Tuesday(May 23) after he was named to the post by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
(Photo Courtesy)
Award-winning journalist Jose ‘Joe’ Torres, Jr. took his oath as the new director-general of the Philippine Information Agency on Tuesday(May 23) after he was named to the post by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY-President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Jose “Joe” Torres Jr., an award-winning journalist and two-time National Book Award recipient, as the new director-general of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
“I am grateful to President Marcos for the opportunity and the privilege to serve the country in these trying times of misinformation and disinformation,” said Torres on Tuesday (May 23).
Torres, who is known for his “exceptional investigative reporting and work in new media”, is expected to strengthen PIA’s mission of disseminating information about government programs, projects, and services to the Filipino public.
He replaced Ramon Cualoping III who was appointed to the post by then President Rodrigo Duterte but reappointed to the same post by Marcos on July 7, 2022.
Torres brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role.
PIA serves as the country’s primary information arm, with a network spanning 16 regional offices and 78 provincial information centers.
According to Torres, the agency’s mandate is to empower Filipinos by providing them with accurate and timely information, enabling them to actively participate in the nation’s democratic processes.
Torres started his journalism career as a writer for the alternative news service Philippine News and Features in the late 1980s.
In the early 1990s, his groundbreaking reporting, later published into the book “Into the Mountain: Hostaged by the Abu Sayyaf,” shed light on the activities of the notorious bandit group in the southern Philippines.
Torres has also worked for various media outlets, both in the Philippines and abroad.
He served as a sub-editor for Saudi Gazette, the national newspaper of Saudi Arabia, as an investigative reporter for the now-defunct Isyu newsmagazine, and wrote for The Manila Times, The Philippine Post, and The Sunday Paper.
Recognizing the importance of online journalism, Torres joined ABS-CBN’s online platform in 2001. He later played a pivotal role in the establishment of GMA News’s online presence in 2005. He also set up the online version of the tabloid Remate in 2009.
In 2010, he joined the Bangkok-based Union of Catholic Asian News as its managing editor. He later became editor-at-large for LiCAS.news, a Church news agency based in Bangkok, and served as member of the editorial board of Radio Veritas Asia in 2018.
Torres’s dedication to his craft has earned him numerous awards and recognitions, including a citation in the 2004 International Tolerance Prize for his article on Filipino Muslims titled “Troubled Return of the Faithful.”
His piece “The Making of a Mindanao Mafia” was awarded 3rd Prize in the Jaime V Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism in 2004.
Torres finished Philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas. Thereafter, he took up units of Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University. (RONALD O. REYES)
Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez handed over a cash gift worth PhP100, 000 to a centenarian resident, Vicente T. Devaras. Joining city mayor was her sister City Councilor Carmen Jean Rama and representatives from the DSWD Field Office 8, the City SWDO, and Ormoc Senior Citizen Affairs head Corazon Agraviador.
(Photo credit to Ormoc City Government)
Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez handed over a cash gift worth PhP100, 000 to a centenarian resident, Vicente T. Devaras. Joining city mayor was her sister City Councilor Carmen Jean Rama and representatives from the DSWD Field Office 8, the City SWDO, and Ormoc Senior Citizen Affairs head Corazon Agraviador. (Photo credit to Ormoc City Government)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the city government of Ormoc headed by Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez handed over a cash gift to centenarian Vicente Devaras.
The P100,000 cash gift was awarded to Devaras in the presence of his family as an act of honoring and granting additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians as mandated by Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarian Act of 2016.
Devaras also received a letter of felicitation signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
“As we gather to honor this exceptional individual, let his journey inspire us to embrace our inner strength, overcome obstacles with unwavering determination, and make a positive impact in our communities,” Mayor Gomez said during the occasion last May 19.
“May Tatay Vicente’s century of inspiration and honor, enriched by his noble service, resonate far and wide, reminding us of the limitless potential within each of us,” she added.
Torres-Gomez said that Devaras is a living testament to the triumph of the ‘human spirit, radiating a remarkable light that ignites hope and uplifts hearts.’
Devaras celebrated his 100 birthday on April 5, 2023.
On May 3, the city government awarded him a cash gift worth P20, 000 at his residence.
In addition to the recognition to the centenarian, the province of Leyte also awarded him a plaque of recognition to acknowledge his contribution to the country’s liberation campaign during the Japanese occupation in the province during World War II.
It was learned that aside from being a war veteran, Devaras in his younger years also worked as a public school teacher in Ormoc.
Since the law took effect, about 80 centenarians in the region have already received P100, 000 cash gift from the government, based on the data of the DSWD-8.
Devaras is the latest or the 20th to receive the cash gift this year. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
